wildfire suppression News

Washington State Considers Raising Insurance Tax to Help Fight Wildfires

With an increasing number of forest fires scorching portions of Washington each year, the Legislature is considering a proposal to create a fund dedicated to preventing and battling wildfires. In March, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and state Senate …

Report: Homes in Fire-Prone Areas Hike Missoula Firefighting Costs

Rapid population growth and the desire to live near forests means new housing in western Montana is being built in wildfire-prone areas, increasing taxpayer-funded fire suppression liabilities and putting lives and property in danger, according to a new study. Half …

Jumbo Tanker Debate Continues as Wildfires Rage in West

A giant aircraft that can fly high above oceans on intercontinental flights instead jets in low and slow over a flaming forest, trailing a long plume that settles on the ground and creates a wildfire-stopping barrier. The operators of the …

Thinning Forests to Reduce Fire Risk

To restore a forest and reduce the risk of severe wildfires, a conservation group is cutting down trees. But it’s not a typical commercial logging operation. The Nature Conservancy is selectively logging dry forests in Washington’s Central Cascades as part …

Despite Wildfire Danger, Wildland Urban Interface Continues to Grow

A new U.S. Forest Service report shows the continued expansion of housing development near forests, an area referred to as the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), with direct implications for the cost of wildfire fighting. Increasing densities of people and infrastructure in …